The Vodafone range of phones spans everything from budget to premium devices and this latest phone sits at the more affordable end of the scale. My Vodafone Smart V8 review shows that a budget phone can still deliver plenty of good things even with a small price tag.

Vodafone Smart V8 Design

The Smart V8 actually feels more high-end than the price would indicate and this is thanks to the rounded edges and the 2.5D toughened Dragontail glass covered display. The phone has a full metal body with a brushed effect on the back and textured panels at the top and bottom. There is no cheap plastic here so the look and feel of this phone certainly breaks from tradition compared to other phones in this price bracket.

The Vodafone Smart V8 is slim and lightweight and the big 5.5-inch display has a full HD resolution so browsing, watching videos and mobile gaming is good on this phone.

Vodafone Smart V8 Features

The Smart V8 is an Android 7.1 device so you get Split Screen mode and the option to respond to notifications from the panel itself rather than opening the app.

The Vodafone Smart V8 is Cardboard compatible and includes a Cardboard camera for taking Virtual Reality Photos, there is a Cardboard Viewer required which is sold separately.

The fingerprint sensor can be used for up to 5 user profiles and the sensor allows you access to the Private Space feature and can be used to lock apps or answer calls.

Smart Lock is on board and this can be used to keep the phone unlocked when in trusted places or when connected to other devices.

The Google Fit app is on board so you can keep track of fitness goals and other features include Google Voice Typing and Duo video calling.

The phone offers up a decent performance with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 octacore processor and 3GB RAM and the usual connection options are included such as 4G for fast web browsing and Wi-Fi.

The 3,000mAh battery is a decent enough capacity giving you up to a day of mixed usage and the Power Manager feature can be used when running low on juice.

Smart V8 Camera Features

The 16-megapixel camera delivers good quality photos thanks to Phase Detection Auto Focus and the dual flash. The phone can be launched with a double tap of the volume button so you don’t miss a shot and there are lots of shooting modes such as time lapse, slow exposure (for capturing moving objects) and super night.

The camera captures video at 1080p and you can a GIF from your photos (up to 50 images) as well as view your photos using the Collage Maker.

The Selfie camera is an 8-megapixel lens which is a standout when compared to other phones in this price bracket. The camera includes wide selfie mode, smile detection and beauty face options.

Verdict.

The price on this phone, just £160 on PAYG, lead me to think you might not get much but I was wrong. The feel of the phone is quality in every way and the performance and camera package stand out from other devices for the same price. If you are on a budget but still want a decent device then the Vodafone Smart V8 is the one for you.

What do you think of the Smart V8? Would you buy this phone? Share your thoughts in the comments below or join me on Google+ to let me know what you think.